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About ASB

Mission of ASB

The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program exposes students to complex social and cultural issues through community visits, experiential learning, direct service, group discussion, readings, and reflection activities. The program's vision is to transform students into advocates of social change on issues affecting our communities.

 

Components of ASB

The three main components include:

  1. a Winter Quarter pre-break academic component (1-unit course)
  2. the Spring Break trip service learning component
  3. a Spring Quarter post-break reflection component

These three components are designed to build the knowledge and capacity of students to make a real difference.

 

Impact of ASB

ASB esteems itself as "the week that lasts a lifetime." Past trips have inspired many students to continue their involvement with the particular social/cultural issues they explored on the trip. Student groups have been formed, majors changed, and new careers discovered.

To hear about the impact of ASB in students' own words, see the testimonials highlighted on our website.

 

Recognition

Stanford's ASB Program has been nationally recognized with awards from BreakAway, the national alternative break organization. The Stanford ASB program has been honored as the "Alternative Spring Break Program of the Year" at the national alternative break conference as well as the "Curriculum Based Alternative Break of the Year."

At Stanford, ASB was acknowledged for its efforts to introduce students to community service with a Lyons Service Award in 1998. In 2002, ASB was again recognized for its contributions by an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Dean of Students. In 2007, ASB celebrated its 20th anniversary.

 

ASB in the News

Alternative Spring Break has been featured extensively in the campus press, including the Stanford Daily and Stanford Report.

Articles about ASB

ASB in the News